PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Robert Stubbs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Derek Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stubbs's entrance music is I Am The Walrus by The Beatles. A fine choice. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Stubbs
vs
Santiago

187 cm
24
210 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

190 cm
21
211 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Robert Stubbs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Derek Santiago!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Emerson Jorge and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stubbs misses with a few strikes there.
Stubbs defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Santiago.
Stubbs pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Stubbs lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Santiago circles away quickly and effectively.
Stubbs ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Santiago moves away.
Stubbs swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Santiago defending well as Stubbs loads up on a big left hand.
Santiago avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stubbs throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Stubbs throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Stubbs misses with an uppercut. Santiago saw that one coming.
Stubbs misses with the combination.
A combination from Stubbs does no damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stubbs misses with a two punch combination.
Stubbs swinging wilding here.
Stubbs throws a right and a left that both miss.
Santiago displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stubbs throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stubbs lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Stubbs misses with the combination.

Santiago shoots in and bounces Stubbs off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Santiago looking to pass the guard.
Santiago pushes down on Stubbs's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Santiago is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Santiago looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Santiago is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Stubbs doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Santiago.
Stubbs is looking for a sweep. Santiago is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santiago is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Santiago moves into full mount! Stubbs won't be happy about that!
Santiago avoids the attempt from Stubbs to control.
Stubbs is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Stubbs is trying desperately to improve position.

Santiago working for a guillotine from mount but Stubbs is in no mood to give up.
Santiago looks gassed!

Santiago is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Stubbs is surviving well by controlling Santiago's body position as best he can.

Santiago swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Stubbs is now in Santiago's guard. A big mistake from Santiago there, giving up the dominant position!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derek Santiago dominated that round.
That's time! Stubbs's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Santiago uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stubbs.
Stubbs swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Stubbs scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Stubbs scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Santiago dodges the punch combination from Stubbs.
Stubbs misses with a straight left.
Stubbs swinging wilding here.
Stubbs thows a left - swing and a miss!
A punch combination from Stubbs misses.
A jab from Stubbs misses.
Stubbs connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Santiago momentarily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Stubbs ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Santiago moves away.
Stubbs with a poor takedown

and Santiago counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Santiago.
Santiago stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stubbs swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stubbs wants to get back to his feet but Santiago is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Santiago is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Santiago wants to pass the guard but Stubbs is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago passes into half guard.

Santiago is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Stubbs defends it well.
Stubbs wants to get back to his feet.

Santiago is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Santiago is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santiago is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Santiago is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Stubbs has one foot on Santiago's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Stubbs throws a leg kick

and Santiago counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Stubbs looks like he's trying to stand up.

Santiago is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Stubbs still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Stubbs has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Santiago is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Robert Stubbs will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Santiago moves out of range as Stubbs strikes.
Santiago keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Santiago is trying hard to land a takedown here. Stubbs sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Santiago looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stubbs misses with a double jab.
Stubbs throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Stubbs throws a right hand that Santiago ducks under and follows up with a left that Santiago also avoids with ease.
Stubbs displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Santiago.
A big left from Stubbs misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stubbs throws an overhand right that lands on Santiago's shoulder, as Santiago tries to avoid the shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stubbs throws a combination that misses

and Santiago counters by moving into the clinch.

Santiago pulls guard successfully.

Santiago is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stubbs wants to pass the guard but Santiago is keeping the position.

Santiago working for a triangle but Stubbs defends it easily.
Stubbs wants to stand but Santiago is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Stubbs got a little sloppy there for a moment and Santiago has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stubbs has managed to get both his arms back between Santiago's legs - danger averted.
Derek Santiago has got the better of the ground game so far.

Santiago had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Stubbs is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Santiago Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Stubbs's back instead.
Stubbs knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Santiago on the ground.
Santiago is trying to stick to Stubbs's back but Stubbs is turning into Santiago. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Santiago's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Stubbs.
Stubbs trying to control the position from guard on top but Santiago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santiago working for a triangle but Stubbs defends it easily.
Stubbs wants to get up but he can't break Santiago's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Santiago is on top in guard.
Santiago looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stubbs is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Santiago is controlling him.
Stubbs tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Santiago drops back looking for a leg! Stubbs is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Stubbs manages to kick Santiago off! Santiago jumps back into Stubbs's guard.
Stubbs keeping full guard, as Santiago tries to pass.

And that's the end of the fight!
Derek Santiago comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Santiago has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Derek Santiago!